Canada has managed to avoid U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pledged to tighten security along the border with America.
In a post on social media, Trudeau said that Trump has agreed to pause the implementation of planned tariffs on imports from Canada for at least 30 days after the government in Ottawa promised to tighten border security and target the flow of the opioid drug fentanyl.
“Canada is implementing our $1.3 billion border plan — reinforcing the border with new choppers, technology and personnel, enhanced coordination with our American partners, and increased resources to stop the flow of fentanyl,” wrote Trudeau.
In his post, Trudeau added that Canada is appointing a “Fentanyl Czar,” and will participate in a new Canada-U.S. Joint Strike Force to combat organized crime, fentanyl and money laundering.
“I have also signed a new intelligence directive on organized crime and fentanyl and we will be backing it with $200 million,” said the Canadian Prime Minister.
Trudeau’s pledge follows a similar one earlier in the day by the Mexican government, which announced that it is deploying 10,000 troops to help fortify America’s southern border.
The tighter border security comes after Trump said over the weekend that he would impose 25% tariffs on most goods from Mexico and Canada, and 10% tariffs on goods from China.
Despite the focus on fentanyl, there is little evidence that much of the deadly drug flows into the U.S. from Canada.
According to law enforcement, the main drug that is smuggled into the U.S. from Canada is cannabis.
The pause in U.S. tariffs averts what many feared would be a costly North American trade war between America and its neighbors.
Trudeau’s government had targeted $155 billion worth of U.S. imports for retaliatory tariffs had the U.S. gone through with its threatened import duties.
